The country has made big strides towards homegrown arms production, creating a demand for exports and reducing its reliance on imports by 48 percent compared to the previous five-year period.
Turkey’s arms imports between 2015 and 2019 were 48 percent lower than the previous five-year period, according to the latest data released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
Not only did Turkey decrease its arms imports by 48 percent, it also increased arms exports by 86 percent between 2015 and 2019, when compared to the previous five years.
Turkey is fighting several terror groups both inside and outside its borders. Since the 1970s, Ankara has been dealing with the PKK, a multi-billion dollar terrorist organisation that is precisely focused on attacking Turkey, while operating from various centres spanning from Europe to the Middle East.
Both the PKK’s offshoot, the YPG, as well as Daesh, have opened new fronts on the Syrian border against Turkey, especially in the last five years.
Turkish military operations in Syria employ a wide range of domestically produced high-tech unmanned aerial vehicles, tanks, missiles and radar systems. The success of cross-border operations shows Turkey’s progress in the military industry.
The Vision for 2023, for the centenary of the Republic of Turkey, declared by Erdogan, is a list of goals that includes ranking in the top 10 economies in the world and becoming a self-sufficient state in terms of defence.
There are many private companies and public enterprises working on producing high-tech military equipment such as ASELSAN, Turkish Aerospace Industries, Havelsan, Roketsan, TUBITAK, Baykar, Tusas and FNSS Defence Systems.
In the last five years, Turkey has exported unmanned aerial vehicles(UAV), missiles, armoured vehicles, artillery and ships to Pakistan, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar and Azarbaijan, to name the principal markets.
Source: TRT World
